Be sure to read to the bottom. The last two paragraphs are some of the most
important words I've read in my life. Ed
From: Sue
Subject: This came from my high school Sunday morning email
Got this from Jeff Seehof on President's Day to pass along to all of you:
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my
assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good
book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the a isle and
filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a
conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to
me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and
then we're being deployed to Afghanistan .
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack
lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we
reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he
planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack
lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base
'
His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I
walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty
dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and
squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a
soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers
were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best -
beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went
to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from
first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane,
heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to
be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming
down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was
not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my
side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his
hand, an said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
Quickly unfastening my seatbelt, I stood and took the Captain's
hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military
pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never
forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the
passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.
A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand,
wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.
Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put
something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.
Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their
trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five
dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about
time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their
fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for
their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I
could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank
check made payable to 'Canada' or 'United States of America' for an amount
of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who
no longer understand it.'
[ecb: ] This is one worth passing on, if you feel like it.
